Archive | Water Related Emergencies

Anyone is at risk for a jellyfish sting when spending time in the beach. The tentacles of jellyfish have stinging cells that cause injury to humans and animals and the severity depends on the type of jellyfish the person comes in contact with. Once a jellyfish sting occurs, they release thousands of tiny barbs that […]

A catfish sting is likely to occur among those who handle the fish. They are usually found in muddy rivers, lakes and beaches in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters. Remember that catfish are not aggressive. Those who sustained a catfish sting usually encounter the fish while bathing or fishing. The spines of the catfish contain […]

Unlike other natural catastrophes, flooding is predictable and mostly preventable. Flooding is defined as the overflow of water that immerses land that is typically dry. In the United States, it proves to be a yearlong problem. In the winter and early spring, snow combined with rain can cause floods, while severe thunderstorms are known to […]

Barotrauma is an injury to the body due to the changes in pressure between an area of the body and the external environment. This change in pressure can occur with change in altitude in the air (barometric) or water. This can occur in the ears, sinuses, and teeth, but the most common type occurs in […]

Hyponatremia, low sodium levels in the body, may lead to disruption of normal cell functions. It is an electrolyte disturbance. When the sodium levels in the blood become lower than normal, extra waters enters the cells resulting to cell swelling. The most difficult complication may arise from swelling in the brain, where it is confined […]

As a general rule, do not attempt to initiate water rescue unless you have adequate training and an experienced swimmer. Except for open, shallow waters with uniform floor line or shallow swimming pools, the potential dangers faced during water rescue are too dangerous and too great for any untrained person or poor swimmer to attempt. […]